As the adage goes, “the internet never forgets” with the tweets of Om Raut mocking Hindu gods viral on Twitter
This rings true for Om Raut, director of the widely acclaimed film Adipurush, as an old tweet about Lord Hanuman is back to haunt him amidst the film’s blockbuster success.
The tweet, originally made in 2015, mocks the celebrations of Hanuman Jayanti, questioning whether Lord Hanuman was deaf due to the high volumes of music played during the festival.
Hinduphobic tweets of director Om Raut go viral as Adipurush disaster trends on Twitter
After an online user shared a screenshot of the controversial post, it has elicited significant criticism, with some considering it as a slight on the revered deity.
Om Raut and his whole Core team needs Belt Treatment from hindus pic.twitter.com/1qSIqjxNKa
— The Random Indian (@randomsena) June 17, 2023
.@omraut deleted his tweet but here's the screenshot #AdipurushDisaster pic.twitter.com/lkh1TAwf3x
— Ponile Mowa (@ponilemova) June 17, 2023
#OmRaut :- We made Ramayan for young generation.
Meanwhile Young generation :- 🔥#AdipurushReview #Adipursh pic.twitter.com/lj1QZkcknr
— axay patel🔥🔥 (@akki_dhoni) June 16, 2023
Marathas won because a fictional character wore skull cap and led from the front
Before #Adipurush, producer Bhooshan Kumar and writer-director Om Raut teamed up to create this gem #TanhajiTheUnsungWarrior https://t.co/YqiiYVGv7G
— Gems of Bollywood बॉलीवुड के रत्न (@GemsOfBollywood) June 18, 2023
Ironically, Om Raut had initiated the film promotions by requesting theatres to reserve a seat for Lord Hanuman, a gesture reflective of his belief in the deity’s omnipresence during the recitation or representation of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. The fact that this past insult is now resurfacing adds fuel to the already simmering discontent among a section of the audience.
Adipurush’s groundbreaking success and controversies
Despite the controversy, Adipurush’s popularity remains unaffected. Released across India in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil, the film’s first-day collection was an impressive Rs 140 Crores, marking the highest day-one collection for a Hindi film on a pan-India level.
Adipurush, starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan as Raghav, Janaki, and Lankesh respectively, offers a fresh take on the Ramayana. However, the film has not been without its share of controversies.
Questioning the film’s interpretation
The Hindu Sena has reportedly filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against Adipurush, calling for the removal or correction of scenes involving characters such as Ram, Sita, Ravan, and Hanuman.
The portrayal of these characters, they argue, significantly deviates from their traditional depiction in Indian civilization. Most notably, Lord Hanuman, enacted by Devdatta Nage, has faced criticism for the allegedly poor quality of the dialogues.
The road ahead for Om Raut
Despite these controversies, the film continues to dominate the box office, indicating its widespread appeal. The debate surrounding the director’s old tweet, however, reveals a broader issue regarding the representation of revered figures and the sensitive nature of religious sentiments. Whether this controversy will have a lasting impact on the film’s success or Om Raut’s future endeavors remains to be seen.
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